‘The New Guys’ has the right stuff | Book Talk

Neil Armstrong, John Glenn and Jim Lovell are the old guys. The new guys in Meredith Bagby’s “The New Guys: The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel” are NASA’s Class 8, a group of 35 astronauts assembled in 1978.

Bagby draws from government hearings and NASA archives, as well as from other books and interviews to form a narrative that leads off with Akron native Judith Resnik as she applies for admission to the program. Bagby takes liberties in reconstructing conversations, like the one with a NASA investigator who asks Sally Ride’s Stanford roommate if Ride kept her hair combed. Later, the women are warned that reporters might ask what kind of perfume they wore.

The grueling training and the horrible aftermath of the Challenger explosion give way to the final flight of the space shuttle Atlantis and a brief look at the surviving astronauts, including Guion “Guy” Bluford, now a resident of Cleveland.

“The New Guys” (528 pages, hardcover) costs $29.99 from William Morrow. Bagby works for a film and TV production company. There are extensive footnotes but no index.

‘Compunction’

“Compunction” by Embee Way of Massillon is a nightmarish psychological drama about a tormented Ohio man whose mental illnesses seem beyond help.

James Singer is the narrator and a recovering alcoholic. Most of the chaotic story takes place over a long winter weekend of psychosis. paranoia and depression, which may be at least partially hereditary and exacerbated by an excess of sleeping pills, which a voice in his head urges him to take.

Singer’s mental problems, compounded by the pills to combat his insomnia, have him sleeping in the bathtub, fully clothed and with a gun. The hallucinations include conversations with the color purple and a shape-shifting, talking German shepherd.

Singer’s blackouts and delusions grow more elaborate, and suicidal impulses ensue. One worried acquaintance calls him persistently, extending offers of help, but Singer pushes him away.

“Compunction” (400 pages, softcover) costs $17.99 from online retailers. Embee Way is a pseudonym.

Awards

Tallmadge author Amanda Flower has won the 2022 Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel for “Because I Could Not Stop for Death,” in which Emily Dickinson and her maid solve a murder. Flower won in the Best Children’s/YA Mystery category in 2013 for “Andi Unstoppable,” about a 12-year-old detective and has two other nominations.

Events

Loganberry Books (13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights): Gary Beckley signs “Oh! Susannah,” the story of his ancestor during the Civil War, 1 p.m. Saturday. At 3 p.m. Saturday, Edith Rasell signs “The Way of Abundance: Economic Justice in Scripture and Society.

Fireside Books (29 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls): Antonia Deignan signs “Underwater Daughter,” 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Hudson Library & Historical Society (96 Library St.): Abra Berens, author of “Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit,” hosts a virtual demonstration at 7 p.m. Monday. At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, S.C. Gwynne talks about “His Majesty’s Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World’s Largest Flying Machine,” about the British R101, which crashed in 1930. At 7 p.m. Thursday, University of Oklahoma professor Andrew Porwancher appears virtually to talk about “The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton.” Register at hudsonlibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma-Powers branch, 6996 Powers Blvd.): Journalist Simon Winchester, author of “The Professor and the Madman,” talks about “Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge from Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic,” 7 p.m. Monday. From 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Patti Callahan Henry (“Surviving Savannah”) talks about her new novel “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” with Cleveland Heights author Paula McLain (“The Paris Wife”); an optional $35 VIP ticket includes a signed copy of the book, preferred seating and a meet-and-greet with the author before the event. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Beachwood branch, 25501 Shaker Blvd.): Poet Maggie Smith talks about her memoir “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. An optional VIP ticket costs $30 and includes a signed copy of the book and preferred seating. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Middleburg Heights branch, 16699 Bagley Road): Ali Brady, a joint pseudonym of Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey, talk about their Chicago-set “The Comeback Summer,” 7 to 8 p.m. Monday. At 10 a.m. Saturday, Brenda Novak talks about “The Seaside Library; the $40 VIP ticket includes a signed copy of the novel with a tote and bookmark and a raffle entry. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Lakewood Public Library (15425 Detroit Ave.): Marc Bona talks about and signs “Hidden History of Cleveland Sports,” 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Bay Village branch, 24700 Wolf Road): Scott Simon talks about “Scare Your Soul: 7 Powerful Principles to Harness Fear and Live Your Most Courageous Life,” 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library: Comedian Jena Friedman, nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” joins the Online Author Talk Series to talk about her collection “Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Et Cetera,” in a virtual appearance at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Register at smfpl.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (North Olmsted branch, 27403 Lorain Road): Mary Beth Keane (“Ask Again, Yes”) discusses her novel “The Half Moon,” 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Peninsula Library & Historical Society (6105 Riverview Road): Les Roberts, author of the Milan Jacovich detective series and the new “The C.I.,” featured in Book Talk on April 23, discusses and signs his work, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Register at peninsulalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma-Snow Branch, 2121 Snow Road): Bonnie Garmus talks about her novel “Lessons in Chemistry,” 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. An optional $30 VIP ticket includes a preferred cocktail reception an hour before the event. Advance notice for an event sure to sell out: Actor Andrew McCarthy talks about “Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain,” 7 to 8 p.m. May 15. The $30 ticket includes a copy of the book. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cuyahoga County Public Library (Brooklyn branch, 4480 Ridge Road): Cuyahoga Falls author Eric Sandy talks about “Speak in Tongues: An Oral History of Cleveland’s Legendary DIY Punk Venue” in an adults-only presentation from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Thursday. Register at cuyahogalibrary.org.

Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (Coventry Village branch, 1925 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights): Journalist Annie Zaleski talks to Cleveland Magazine editor Annie Nickoloff about Zaleski’s photo history “Lady Gaga Applause,” 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Visible Voice Books (2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland): Journalist Mark Guarino signs “Country and Midwestern: Chicago and the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival,” 7 p.m. Friday. At 1 p.m. Saturday, fantasy authors L. Wood (“The Vault”) and Chelsea Banning (“Of Crowns and Legends”) sign their work.

Massillon Public Library (208 Lincoln Way E.): A.M. McPherson, author of the young adult fantasy “The Guardians’ Daughter,” talks about her work from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Registration suggested at massillonlibrary.org.

Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N. Main St., Hudson): David Allen Edmonds signs “Unexpected Love,” “Personal Pronouns” and “Direct Objects,” 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Email information about books of local interest, and event notices at least two weeks in advance to BeaconBookTalk@gmail.com and bjnews@thebeaconjournal.com. Barbara McIntyre tweets at @BarbaraMcI.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: ‘The New Guys’ tells story of 35 astronauts who broke barriers